What makes a good movie?

[Dave Gray]

Get on your pretentious caps....this is one of those "what is art" discussions.

I saw a movie last night called "Blue Valentine".  It's getting lauded by critics and the actors are all getting praised.  It is probably the most miserable 2 hours I've spent in a movie theater in my life.  But it's not because the movie is bad.  It's because the story is so depressing that it's gut-wrenching.  It's misery porn.  It's not even the "crying" kind of sad.  It's the stomach-ache kind.  I literally felt sick.  And it's not like it started good and got sad.  It starts depressing and ends with me at the end of a rope.

The movie is about a married couple breaking up, in a painful manner.  This is told, interspersed with them falling in love, which looked like a way out of their shit lives.  Nope. 

In the movie, you have:
- the family pet getting run over by a car
- abortion
- alcoholism
- death of old people
- getting beaten up
- getting fired
- uncomfortable sex scenes

You ever know a couple that fights in public and it's really uncomfortable and awkward for everyone.  Well, that's this movie.

But, for what it is, a misery-fest, it's great at it.  So, how can you judge a movie like this?

[Buddhagirl]

I'm going to see it because Ryan Gosling is my husband. He doesn't know it, but he is.

[Sunstroke]

I stay away from this sort of "misery porn" movie. If I want to be totally depressed, I'll watch the evening news.

My avoiding it doesn't disqualify it as being a potentially excellent movie...but I'll avoid an excellent movie that makes me feel miserable just the same as I do a crappy movie that draws the same feelings.

[Pappy13]

But, for what it is, a misery-fest, it's great at it.  So, how can you judge a movie like this?

Did the movie do what you think the movie set out to do?  Did it suck you into the story?  Did you have a "connection" with the actors?  Did it make you think?

If a movie does what I think the movie sets out to do then I think it's a good movie.  And I only ask that question AFTER I have watched the movie, not before.  I may have a flawed belief in what the movie will set out to do prior to watching it, but if I realize while watching that it is actually attempting something completely different, I can still enjoy the movie.  The only time I don't enjoy a movie is when I don't "get" it.  I don't "get" what the movie is attempting to do.  If I can't figure out what I'm supposed to "get" out of the movie, then I won't enjoy it.

So, did you "get" it?

[fyo]

I stay away from this sort of "misery porn" movie. If I want to be totally depressed, I'll watch the evening news.

My avoiding it doesn't disqualify it as being a potentially excellent movie...but I'll avoid an excellent movie that makes me feel miserable just the same as I do a crappy movie that draws the same feelings.

What he said.

[Dave Gray]

So, did you "get" it?

Yeah, I got it, but I didn't like what I got.

I don't feel that there was any payoff.  ...no lesson learned.  ...no character arch worth mentioning.  It wasn't particularly interesting.  It was just very good at being awful.

I think I hated this movie.

[bsfins]

I'm not sure if I can put my finger on specific things that make a good,or bad movie.....For me,part of the problem is Hype...I try not to let it influence me,but unfortunately it does...

Then while I'm watching, do I care about the characters? Can I relate? Get past the actor,and see the character for the most part? Am I sitting through tons of dialog questioning,what does this have to do with anything...Does it make sense? (depending on the type of movie I'm watching) Does it make me laugh? if it's supposed to

The biggest thing since I SOooo rarely go to the movies and watch 99% of them at home.Does it hold my attention basically for the above reason,or am I thinking about work,or a 3d model,what's going on here...

I've never heard of the movie Dave's referring too,So I'd probably feel the same way Dave is....

For Me Dinner For Smucks....Was the worst....